Language modeling is a technique in natural language processing that involves predicting the next word in a sequence based on the words that came before it. This is achieved by training algorithms on large datasets of text, allowing them to learn patterns, grammar, and context. These models can be used in various applications, such as chatbots, speech recognition, and text generation. By understanding and generating human-like text, language models enhance communication between humans and machines, making interactions more intuitive and effective.